sheepdog

American

[sheep-dawg, -dog] / ˈʃipˌdɔg, -ˌdɒg /

Or sheep dog

noun

a dog trained to herd and guard sheep.

sheepdog British

/ ˈʃiːpˌdɒɡ /

noun

Also called: shepherd dog. a dog used for herding sheep See Border collie
any of various breeds of dog reared originally for herding sheep See Old English sheepdog Shetland sheepdog

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of sheepdog

First recorded in 1765–75; sheep + dog

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Kingsland, a set dresser, walked with Jennine Beltran, a production designer who held the leashes of Luke, another Old English sheepdog mix, and Betty, a tiny poodle and schnauzer mix.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 22, 2023

To support his paranormal claim, James Irving sent Price and Lambert samples of the creature’s supposed hair, teeth, and claws that turned out to be from the family sheepdog.

From National Geographic • Sep. 19, 2023

His career included stints on BBC Scotland's Beechgrove Garden and presenting televised sheepdog trials.

From BBC • Aug. 2, 2023

Today, Pippa and his 2-year-old English sheepdog, Pearl, which he called “my big fuzzy wuzzy,” are fully vaccinated.

From Washington Post • Dec. 30, 2022

Lying on the floor at Carine’s feet is Buckley, the Shetland sheepdog Chris had been so attached to.

From "Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023